French psychiatrist suspended for 3 months for inappropriate conduct

October 26, 2017

French psychiatrist Jean-Paul Guittet had his license suspended for three months after a woman accused him of raping her in 1989 when she was 27 and a patient of his.  The doctor denied the rape and said he simply took her in his arms.

The president of the French medical council said that taking a patient in one's arms or stroking the patient's hair is contrary to the code of ethics of medicine, which is why the doctor was suspended for 3 months.  The charge of rape could not be upheld due to lack of evidence.

SOURCE: "Sarthe: un psychiatre suspendu 3 mois pour des gestes déplacés," Le Figaro.fr, 23 Oct 2017, http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2017/10/19/97001-20171019FILWWW00094-sarthe-un-psychiatre-suspendu-3-mois-pour-des-gestes-deplaces.php.